GFV solution on UTE mesh for transient modeling of concrete aging effects on thermal plane strains during construction of gravity dam

Considering variation of the material properties during early ages of construction, the strain–stress fields due to cement hydration induced transient temperature field in a section of a concrete dam are computed. The 2D matrix free Galerkin Finite Volume (GFV) method is utilized to solve temperature and plane-strain equations in a sequential manner on an Unstructured Triangular Elements (UTE) meshes. For the computed temperature field at each time step some iterative solutions are performed until the force equilibrium equations are converged. In the developed numerical model, a novel method to impose gradient boundary condition is introduced that is suitable for the GFV solution on UTE meshes. The results of the developed model is verified by comparing the computed results with the experimental measurements of some bench mark test cases, and good agreement is observed. To present the ability of the introduced model to model real problems, modeling time dependent thermal stress profiles during gradual construction of a concrete dam on a natural foundation is performed for both constant and variable mechanical properties conditions.     

A paradigmatic change: linking fullerenes to electron acceptors

The potential of Lu(3)N@C(80) and its analogues as electron acceptors in the areas of photovoltaics and artificial photosynthesis is tremendous. To this date, their electron-donating properties have never been explored, despite the facile oxidations that they reveal when compared to those of C(60). Herein, we report on the synthesis and physicochemical studies of a covalently linked Lu(3)N@C(80)-perylenebisimide (PDI) conjugate, in which PDI acts as the light harvester and the electron acceptor. Most important is the unambiguous evidence--in terms of spectroscopy and kinetics--that corroborates a photoinduced electron transfer evolving from the ground state of Lu(3)N@C(80) to the singlet excited state of PDI. In stark contrast, the photoreactivity of a C(60)-PDI conjugate is exclusively governed by a cascade of energy-transfer processes. Also, the electron-donating property of the Lu(3)N@C(80) moiety was confirmed through constructing and testing a bilayer heterojunction solar cell device with a PDI and Lu(3)N@C(80) derivative as electron acceptor and electron donor, respectively. In particular, a positive photovoltage of 0.46 V and a negative short circuit current density of 0.38 mA are observed with PDI/Ca as anode and ITO/Lu(3)N@C(80) as cathode. Although the devices were not optimized, the sign of the V(OC) and the flow direction of J(SC) clearly underline the unique oxidative role of Lu(3)N@C(80) within electron donor-acceptor conjugates toward the construction of novel optoelectronic devices.     

Prediction of transport properties of CO2-N2 binary mixtures via the inversion of reduced-viscosity collision integrals

In the present study, the main purpose is to extract information about the effective intermolecular potential energy function for binary mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide by the usage of a direct inversion of the experimentally reduced viscosity and second virial coefficient data and then to reproduce the dilute gas transport properties from the inverted potential energy. The Lennard-Jones (12, 6) potential energy function has been employed as the initial potential model required by the inversion method. The MSV potential obtained in this way is in reasonable agreement with the independently known Co₂-N₂ potential energy function. Using the inverted pair potential energies, the Chapman-Enskog scheme is employed to calculate transport properties of CO₂-N₂ in a wide composition and temperature range. The close agreement between the predicted values and the literature results of transport properties demonstrate the predictive power of the inversion scheme.     

Calculation of transport properties and intermolecular potential energy function of the binary mixtures of H2 with Ne,Ar, Kr and Xe by a semi-empirical inversion method

The present paper contains inspection of the improved corresponding states principle for transport properties of hydrogen and the binary mixtures of hydrogen with Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe. The set of corresponding states parameters has been defined by a complex numerical analysis of a carefully selected body of experimental data. The obtained correlations for the reduced orientation-averaged diffusion and viscosity collision integrals are restricted to low densities in a temperature range from T = ?/k to the onset of ionization. These equations have been inverted directly to give the isotropic and effective intermolecular potential energy curve for binary mixtures of H₂ with Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe corresponding to the viscosity collision integrals. The results are then used to obtain the best Morse-Spline-Van der Waals (MSV) potential parameters. Our inverted potential energies have been compared with experimental intermolecular potentials that were obtained by molecular beam scattering and infrared spectroscopic measurements. In this research, the Chapman–Enskog and Wang Chang-Uhlenbeck-de Boer (WCUB) version of kinetic theory have been used in conjunction with our inverted potential energies to reproduce viscosity, diffusion, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusion factor of binary mixtures of H₂ with Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe in a wide temperature range for equimolar composition. As the deviation plots illustrate, our obtained intermolecular potential energies (on the basis of the algorithm presented in the inversion process) represent the low-density transport properties of binary mixtures of H₂ with Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe within their expected experimental uncertainties. Close agreement between the predicted values and the literature results of transport properties demonstrates the predictive power of the inversion scheme.     

Determination of copper in water and plant samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after preconcentration on octadecyl silica membrane disks modified with a recently synthesized Schiff's base

A simple, selective, reliable, and sensitive method for the determination of trace amounts of CU2+ ions in aqueous samples is proposed. The Cu2+ ions are adsorbed quantitatively during the passage of aqueous samples through an octadecyl (C18) silica membrane disk modified by a symmetrical tetradentate Schiff base ligand, N,N'-bis(4-phenylazo salicylaldimine) 3-chloro-1,2-phenylenediamine (H2L). The retained Cu2+ ions were then stripped from the disk by elution with the minimal amount of nitric acid solution and determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Various parameters, such as the effect of pH, flow rate, type and amount of eluent, and the effects of various cationic interferences on the recovery of ions were studied. The proposed method permitted large enrichment factors (about 550 and higher). The limit of detection of the method was 1.5 x 10(-2) microg/L. The use of the same disk modified with 6 mg H2L for at least 30 times showed no change in the recovery of Cu2+ ions. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by determination of Cu2+ ions in standard samples [National Institute of Environmental Studies (NIES) No. 2 and Nippon Keikinzoku Kogyo (NKK) No. 920]. The results demonstrated good agreement with certified values.     

Hydroarylation of cinnamic acid with phenols catalyzed by acidic ionic liquid [H-NMP]HSO<Subscript>4</Subscript>: computational assessment on substituent effect

Hydroarylation of cinnamic acid with different substituted phenols, in the presence of acidic ionic liquid, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidonum hydrosulfate ([H-NMP]HSO₄) gave the corresponding dihydrocoumarins in high yields and excellent selectivity. Among these substituted phenols, while methyl phenol afforded the corresponding dihydrocoumarin, nitrophenol under the same reaction conditions diverted the course of reaction, affording 3-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-phenylpropanoic acids. We investigated this behavior from the energetic and electronic points of view, using quantum chemistry computational methods. In this respect, the electronic energy change values for the conversion reaction of substituted phenyl cinnamate esters to dihydrocoumarin compounds have been obtained via density functional theory calculations. We demonstrated that the conversion reaction in the presence of CH₃ substituent is more favorable energetically than NO₂ substituent. Moreover, we have concentrated on topological analysis of electron density on some key bond and ring critical points and their associated bond paths to assess the conversion of substituted phenyl cinnamate esters to dihydrocoumarins. Our calculated results showed that para-methyl phenyl cinnamate has more of electronic tendency to undergo the intramolecular cyclization step and, consequently, generate the corresponding dihydrocoumarin.     

Inclusion of sulfamethoxazole in a novel CuFe2O4 nanoparticles/mesoporous silica‐based nanocomposite: Release kinetics and antibacterial activity

In this work, we aimed to improve the antibacterial activity of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) via its inclusion in a newly synthesized nanocomposite composed of CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles and poly(vinyl alcohol)/silica‐based mesoporous materials. Characterization of this formulation using different techniques confirmed the correct synthesis and showed that this mesoporous nanocomposite had an amorphous structure with relatively high surface area of 1,620.7 m² g^?1 and mean pore diameter of 1.6576 nm. Zeta potential of the formulation was obtained to be zero which led to its higher bioavailability in comparison to pure SMX with negative zeta potential. Antibacterial property of the prepared formulation against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was evaluated. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the SMX‐loaded mesoporous nanocomposite was considerably lower than those of pure SMX, indicating the efficient function of the mesoporous material as a delivery system. Kinetics of SMX release was also studied using zero‐order, first‐order, Higuchi, and Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetics models. According to the obtained results, the release kinetics was found to obey zero‐order model. So the possibility of sustained release of SMX from the synthesized carrier may be suggested.     

Development of effervescence-assisted switchable polarity solvent homogeneous liquid-phase microextraction for the determination of permethrin and deltamethrin in water samples prior to gas chromatography–flame ionization detection

An effervescent tablet-assisted switchable polarity solvent–based homogeneous liquid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography with flame ionization detection has been conducted for the separation, preconcentration, and detection of permethrin and deltamethrin in the river water specimens. Triethylamine (TEA) was utilized as the switchable polarity solvent in this method. The switching process was carried out by the dissolution of an effervescent tablet including an effervescency agent (sodium carbonate) and a proton donor agent (citric acid). Changing the pH of the specimen solution enhanced the conversion of TEA into protonated triethylamine carbonate through the tablet that generated carbon dioxide bubbles in situ. Finally, the addition of sodium hydroxide changed the ionization state of TEA and separated the two phases. Influential factors in the extraction were investigated. According to optimal situations, the limit of detection and the limit of quantification were 0.16 and 0.5 μg L⁻¹ for permethrin and 0.03 and 0.1 μg L⁻¹ for deltamethrin, respectively. The preconcentration factor was 194 in river water samples and inter- and intra-day precision (relative standard deviation %; n = 5) was <5%. The extraction recovery was obtained in the range of 93.0%–97% for permethrin and deltamethrin in water samples.